Namibian Leader Wins Ibrahim’s $5-Million Governance Prize

The president of Namibia, Hifikepunye Pohamba, has been awarded the Mo Ibrahim Foundation’s $5-million leadership prize Monday, marking the first time since 2011 that the award aimed at promoting African democracy has been presented, The Wall Street Journal reports. Mr. Ibrahim, a British-Sudanese telecommunications magnate, established the prize in 2006 to reward African leaders who voluntarily leave office and improve living conditions in their countries.

Mr. Pohamba will step aside this month after serving the constitutional maximum of two terms. While Namibia remains wracked by poverty, the foundation’s prize committee praised the president for welcoming political opposition, investing heavily in the fight against AIDS, and making education free for the country’s children. Several times during the life of the prize the committee has declined to choose a recipient, saying no African leaders fit the prize criteria.